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General Podiatry Archives - Page 12 of 17 - Anderson Podiatry Center Anderson Podiatry Center

General Podiatry Archives - Page 12 of 17 - Anderson Podiatry Center Anderson Podiatry Center

Category: General Podiatry

Neuropathy 101: Part 1 (Symptoms, Location, Causes)

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Do you think you or someone you love might have neuropathy? Perhaps you’ve just been diagnosed with it and you are looking for answers.

You’ve come to the right place. Today, we are going to talk about neuropathy symptoms, locations, and causes of neuropathy. In Part 2 of this blog, we will talk specifically about treatment options, and share stories of patients who have found hope and relief from their symptoms. Let’s get started.

What are the symptoms?

Patients with neuropathy will usually experience:

  • Pain
  • Burning
  • Tingling
  • Numbness
  • Weakness

These symptoms don’t all need to be present. One person may have a lot of numbness and slight amounts of burning, while another may have numbness and weakness, but no tingling.

So the combination of these symptoms, and the amounts of different symptoms are widely varied. The symptoms may be periodic in the beginning, and then eventually occur 24 hours a day. They may be barely noticeable during the day, but then haunt you by at night by keeping you awake.

The symptoms may have been very mild for many years with very slow progression. Or, you may be experiencing a rapid progression of symptoms getting worse very quickly.

Where do the symptoms occur?

This is  one of the most important things to consider. Many times, I have seen patients who think they are getting neuropathy because they have numbness in one or two toes. Or, maybe it’s in a small area on the side of the foot.

A small location is not common with neuropathy symptoms. To qualify as true neuropathy, symptoms need to be found in a larger area. For example, the entire bottom or top of the foot. Or, in many cases, the top and bottom of the foot, including all the toes.

Symptoms may not be shared equally in both feet and legs. It can occur more in the lower legs than in the feet. In medical school, we were taught that neuropathy occurs in both feet equally. But, I will tell you from years of experience treating patients, this is not what I have seen day to day. What I have seen consistently, is that the symptoms are typically located in larger areas of the foot and leg, usually below the knee.

What causes neuropathy?

Diabetes may be a potential cause of neuropathy, and many people assume that you have to have diabetes to get neuropathy. This is not true. Although a high percentage of patients with diabetes do get neuropathy, we see many who do not have diabetes. Some patients have neuropathy that may have been caused by alcoholism or chemotherapy, and as a result, the nerves have become damaged. Whatever the cause, the locations and symptoms still apply.

Lastly, don’t be confused by the big words thrown around to diagnose neuropathy. You may have heard “peripheral idiopathic polyneuropathy.” Big words yes, but let’s break it down. “Peripheral” means that your symptoms are in the periphery, which means away from the midportion or trunk of your body. “Idiopathic” means from unknown cause. And finally, “polyneuropathy” means in multiple locations. So very simply, this term means that you have neuropathy symptoms away from your midsection, in multiple locations, and they don’t know what caused it.

Neuropathy can be very frustrating and debilitating. I see patients every day who are looking for answers, and the good news is that we can help!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series to learn about treatment, and hear stories of hope.

To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

Hammertoes 101- Part 2

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Welcome to Hammertoes 101.

In the last blog, we learned all about what a hammertoe is, and about the different types that can occur. For a quick recap, a hammertoe is essentially a bent toe; it is when your toe bends or curls, instead of pointing forward.

There are two types of hammertoes: a mallet toe (when the toe is flexing downward only at the very end of the joint) and a claw toe (when the toe  flexes at both joints). There are also hammertoes that bend and rub against the neighboring toe. Though some hammertoes are worse than others, they all offer a certain degree of pain and discomfort.

Today, you’ll learn about prevention & treatment

Before we delve into preventative measures, it’s important to understand what causes hammertoes. A popular notion is that you can control whether you get a hammertoe or not. This may be true in some cases, which I’ll cover later, but in most situations there is relatively little that can be done.

There are several causes of hammertoes:

  • An imbalance between the tendons that pull the toes up (extensor tendons) and the tendons that pull the toes down (the flexor tendons) can cause the deformity.
  • Neurological conditions such as neuropathy can cause muscle weakness, which in turn may lead to hammertoes.
  • If one toe is abnormally long, a tight fitting shoe may cause it to buckle.
  • Genetics plays a big part. If you have a less than ideal bone structure for the foot type you were born with, you may be predisposed to hammertoes. A very high arched foot may contribute to this problem and the opposite, a very flat foot, may do the same.

Alright, now for the good part.

What can you do to help prevent this pesky ailment?

When the second toe is longer than the first, shoe gear is a consideration. Make sure you fit the shoe to the second toe. It may feel like the shoe is a little loose or big, but it’s much better than scrunching the toe in there, and winding up with a painful hammertoe.

Other than in this instance, shoes can do little to prevent hammertoes, so please don’t feel guilty if you have one, as it’s usually not your fault. As I tell patients, it’s more a function of the parents you chose and the foot you inherited.

But, there’s good news.

How do you treat hammertoes?

Hammertoes, though frustrating and sometimes very painful, can be treated.

If there is a corn present, trimming done professionally (to prevent cutting too deep or injuring the toe) can provide relief especially in the earlier stages.

Hammertoe correction surgery may be necessary to correct the more severe deformities. This is a relatively simple procedure and most patients typically walk the day of surgery in a stiff soled postoperative shoe.

If you are suffering from one or even multiple hammertoes, there is no need to suffer any longer. Come see us and get back to the activities you enjoy and the shoes you’ve missed!

Make an appointment here. 

Hammertoes 101- Part 1

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What are hammertoes?

Hammertoes are the often painful deformities on toes that occur when your toe bends or curls instead of pointing forward and so it rubs against your shoes. You may not realize it, but there are different types of hammertoes. A hammertoe is really just a bent toe. This sounds simple enough, but there is a more to it than this.

There are two types of hammertoes:

  1. If the toe flexes downward only at the very end joint (the joint closest to the toenail) it is called a mallet toe. In a mallet toe, the toe overall is straight. But, the joint closest to the toenail flexes downward causing you to walk on the tip of the toe. This becomes uncomfortable because each toe has a fat pad on the bottom. The toe rests on the fat pad, sort of like the rear end you’re sitting on as you read this. When the toe bends down too much, the tip of the toe is pressed upon, where there is no padding, just skin and bone. This type of hammertoe is the rarest, though it is just as correctable.
  2. If it flexes at both joints in the toe it is called a claw toe. When a claw toe rubs against the shoe, a corn forms on the top of the toe, which often becomes painful.

What causes a hammertoe?

Hammertoes can occur when a toe crowds its neighbor. When you think of a hammertoe, you may envision a toe that is bent and sticks up rubbing against the shoe. However, in many situations, the toe may be deviated towards its neighboring toe. Typically, any of the smaller toes are more likely to drift towards the big toe rather than away from it. When this occurs, frequently not only is the toe hammered, but it is also angulated towards the neighboring toe. One toe rubbing against its neighbor may cause all kinds of problems, such as a blister, open sore, or corns between toes rather than just on the tops of them.

The fifth toe likes to cause problems:

Though all toes can become a hammertoe, the fifth toe is most common. This may be the smallest toe, but it causes the most frequent problems. It can have a hammertoe, with a downward flexion in the joints. But, it can also be twisted so that it rubs against the next toe. This may lead to a corn or sore area on that side of the toe, giving toe number four a sore also. Or, the pain can be on the outside where the knuckle may rub against the shoe. In these situations, with toe number five, surgery is the most common treatment to correct the problem.

So, now you are armed with knowledge about all the different “ins and outs” of hammertoes. What can you do to help prevent and treat them? Stay tuned for part two of this post to find out!

If you have a hammertoe and would like to make an appointment, click here. 

Debra’s Story: Relief from Chronic Pain

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Every patient we see is unique, but unfortunately, many of them come in telling a similar story. They are suffering from chronic pain and are searching for answers. They want to avoid the medications, the spinal injections, and the spinal stimulators that are commonly used for the treatment of chronic pain problems.

At Anderson Center for Nerve Pain, we focus on treating patients with chronic pain or numbness throughout the body due to diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy treatments, trauma or surgery. If your pain or numbness is due to injury or entrapment or compression of one or more peripheral nerves, there is a very high chance that we can help. We utilize one or more of several successful treatment methods, depending on each patient’s needs:

Here’s Debra’s story. Our hope is that if you are suffering today, this will encourage you to not give up.

Everything Looked Good

Debra came to our Fort Collins office from Denver. She had a complex injury to her foot due to a fractured heel. With this type of injury, it is not uncommon for surgery to be indicated to put the heel back in the proper position. This injury will typically present with not one, but multiple fractures. Her X-rays showed screws and plates in the heel bone, and everything looked good.

But She Was Not So Good

Debra was suffering from chronic pain. She had severe burning, tingling, numbness, and throbbing in her foot and into her leg.  She had been referred to a pain clinic and was on narcotics, which were causing her to fall asleep at work. Because the fatigue was so extreme, she was going to bed at 7:00pm, and she felt it was dangerous for her to even drive her children around. The next step for her was to consider a spinal implant for electrical stimulation to help with her pain. Drugs and the implant are common conventional methods to help these patients. She came to me to explore her other options.

New Hope

After examining Debra, it was apparent that a nerve had been damaged from the surgery she had. The surgery was a success in terms of repairing the broken heel, but she was now left with residual pain. A small nerve called the sural nerve that lies on the outside of the ankle became entangled in the scar tissue from the surgery. On her first visit I injected a small amount of local anesthetic with cortisone above the area of nerve damage. She returned several days later and said, “The pain is coming back, but for three days, it was almost completely gone!”

Because of her chronic pain, the doctor had warned her not to contemplate any kind of surgery in the foot or leg, so we did another injection. She came back again and again, and with the same response each time! Eventually after two or three injections to calm this injured nerve, she had faith in what I was suggesting that we do.

The Source of the Pain

So what did we do? Because of the severe amount of damage to the nerve, we made a small incision in her lower leg just above the ankle. Through this incision, we cut the nerve and buried the tip in the muscle. Why the removal? The nerve was the pain generator. Why did we bury the tip in the muscle? This is commonly done to minimize the possibility of the tip of the nerve causing pain. When a nerve is cut, it wants to recreate more nerve tissue and we call this an amputation, or stump neuroma. By burying the nerve in the muscle, it reduces the chance of the area being sensitive to touch.

It is very important to note two things:

  1. The nerve removed does not supply any muscles that could result in weakness. In fact, she should become stronger as she can now use her pain-free leg even more!
  2. The numbness tends to go away as the other remaining nerves will sprout new branches and make up for her numbness. Months later, most patients report minimal numbness.

What We Believe

My message to you is this. If you or someone you love is suffering from chronic pain, please do not give up hope. Maybe you are on medications and struggling with the side effects. Maybe you are suffering from the stress or depression caused by chronic pain.

We believe that the time has come to change the game regarding the approach to helping people suffering from chronic pain. We may be able to address the source of your pain just like we did for Debra.

Don’t wait. Come see us. Click here to make an appointment.

Which Running Shoe is Right for You?

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Whether you are new to the running game, or starting a new kind of activity like hiking or cross training, picking out the right kind of shoe can be a stressful task. As a podiatrist and an athlete, I will tell you that it is very important to find a athletic shoe that fits your specific needs. So here’s a few tips to help simplify the process. Happy shopping.

1. The shoe should fit the activity

The first step is to decide which activity you want the shoes for. Do you like to run on the road or on trails? Do you spend most of the time cross training in the gym doing classes like Zumba or Body Pump? Road running shoes are designed to be light and flexible with cushion and not a lot a tread. Trail running shoes add aggressive tread to provide protection while on rocks and uneven ground. Cross training shoes are designed to provide more contact with the ground while still giving you support and comfort. So make sure you think about what activities you will primarily be wearing these shoes for.

2. Find out your foot type

Now that you have a primary activity in mind, we can we start to look at your foot type. Typically, shoes are made for 3 different foot types.

The most common are neutral pronation shoes. This is for people whose arch is maintained during the gait cycle. When you strike the ground, initially your heel will slightly pronate or turn outward to allow for shock absorption. You may notice slight wear on the inside portion of your shoes at the heel.

The next is overpronatation. This is for people who are generally more flat footed and their arch is not maintained during the gait cycle. In this foot type you will notice excessive wear on the inside of the heel of your shoes and wear along the inside at the ball of your foot. For this foot type, added stability is placed into the shoe along the arch to help prevent your arch from collapsing. Often you will notice a different color of material along the midsole of the shoe, which is generally stiffer then the remaining portion of the sole.

The last type of shoe is for people who have high arches, or who supinate (also called underpronation). In this foot type you will notice excessive wear on the outside of the heel and along the outside of the ball of the foot. This is the least common in runners, but with this foot type, added cushioning and flexibility is necessary.

3. Now it’s time to try them on

The most important thing is comfort. Try to shop for shoes later in the day when your feet are generally a little more swollen. You will want about a thumbnail width in added length at the end of the shoes, but the width should be snug. You do not want to feel like you are sliding around in the shoe. Consider having your feet measured to ensure a proper fit.  Also, if you wear orthotics, bring them with you to make sure they will fit appropriately.

When it comes to brands of shoes, I have tried multiple over the years. Generally, most are made similarly with the different characteristics I have mentioned above. I typically will defer to comfort over a certain brand and recommend you try various brands to see which one you find the most comfortable. Most runners I talk to have found one they love, and will keep going back to that brand and model of shoe.

Here’s one more important piece of advice for all you dedicated athletes out there: if you find yourself facing a training-related injury, such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, or a stress fracture, it’s crucial not to push through the pain. Continuing to train on an injured foot can exacerbate the issue and prolong your recovery time. Instead, be proactive and take a well-deserved break from your training routine.

At Anderson Podiatry Center, we specialize in treating sports-related foot and ankle injuries, and we’re here to help you get back on track as quickly as possible. Our experienced team will provide you with expert care and a personalized treatment plan to support your healing journey. To make an appointment, click here.

Additionally, if you’re in need of the perfect athletic shoe to aid your recovery and prevent future injuries, we recommend visiting our friends at Runners Roost. When you drop by their store, be sure to mention that we sent you their way. They have the expertise to help you find the ideal shoe that suits your specific needs and enhances your athletic performance. Your health and well-being are our top priorities, and we’re dedicated to ensuring you receive the best care and guidance on your fitness journey.

Neuropathy: The Nerve Monitor Epiphany

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I’m sure you’ve had epiphanies in your life. Today, I would like to share one of mine with you. I’ve had those miracle moments with the birth of a child and meeting my wife. But, this was an epiphany for the doctor in me. Something that has truly changed the way I treat patients and how I can see treatment impacting their quality of life in a powerful way.

Nerve Decompression

For several years, I had been performing nerve decompression procedures on patients suffering from neuropathy (burning, tingling, numbness and pain). We believe these symptoms occur because there is too much pressure on the nerve tunnels. We go in surgically and relieve the pressure on these nerves, and many patients report up to 90% symptom relief either immediately, or just days after surgery. This procedure is very similar to those performed on the hand for carpal tunnel syndrome, but no one was really doing this for patients with neuropathy in their legs and feet.

Up until this point, I could see that patients would often have immediate relief of their neuropathy symptoms, but all we had to go on was their experience. They would say, “My numbness is gone, I can feel my feet again, I don’t need my medication anymore.” But, we doctors like to see the proof. And so I was dreaming about a way to show objectively how the nerve function was actually being improved.

And Then It Happened

I was invited to California along with four other doctors, who were also nerve surgeons, to learn about this nerve testing device. This doctor was showing how you could stimulate the nerve before opening up the tunnel and measure how much the muscles contract. Then, you repeat the test after all the pressure on the nerve had been relieved and you can actually see numbers that measure the difference. Wow!

This was confirming what patients had been telling me all along. It finally armed me with a tool to reach more patients suffering from neuropathy.

Proof in the OR

So what does this mean to you as the patient? This is exciting because the surgeon now has a way to monitor the progress of the surgery as it’s happening. Many of you may have a healthy fear of surgery and that’s ok. What the nerve monitor does is provide you with more confidence that the surgeon can optimize your improvement during surgery.

Now every week when I measure the nerve function on a patient before and after surgery, I can see a 20, 30, 70, up to even a 300% improvement! This is so exciting because it validates scientifically that these nerve decompression procedures are truly reversing the nerve damage that has caused the patient to suffer from the symptoms of neuropathy and restless leg syndrome. Also, if the nerve is very unhealthy, we can elect to continuously stimulate the nerve for a couple of minutes, as this may be able to therapeutically repair the nerve.

What It Means For You

Perhaps you are diabetic and suffering from neuropathy. Maybe you have had restless leg syndrome your whole life, and you have never found a solution. You may have had cancer, and been treated with chemotherapy, and now have neuropathy as a result. Maybe you have been perfectly healthy but as you have gotten older, you started to lose feeling in your feet, and began to lose your balance. Maybe you are on medications, and the side effects are bothering you tremendously. Whatever your experience, here are a few benefits that can occur as a result of nerve decompression treatment:

  • Better, more peaceful sleep
  • Elimination or reduction of medication
  • Increased activity levels
  • Improved balance
  • Reduction of falls
  • Reduction of amputation risk
  • Weight reduction
  • Reduction of emotional stress and depression

The intraoperative nerve monitoring concept can give you the confidence to hope for all of the above.

Fast Forward

It takes time for a vision to take shape. Now several years later, with lots of work (and frustration), the first of three research papers has been published. Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to China and speak to a gathering of 500 international foot and ankle surgeons about my recently published paper on intraoperative nerve monitoring. The paper reports that in diabetic patients with neuropathy, we can measure improvement of nerve function within minutes during surgery.

Flying home, I began to reflect on all of this, and here is what I want you to know. I so appreciate the trust that my patients have given me. My wish is that if you are suffering from restless legs or neuropathy, this would be the one thing that you need to give you a glimmer of hope.

To see patients share their stories of hope, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

Why Treadmill Running on an Incline is a Bad Idea

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I treat a wide variety of sports-related aches, pains, and injuries involving the feet and ankles. While there is no sure fire way to avoid all of these issues, there are some common workout methods that can aggravate your feet more than others. Over the years, I have learned to ask for detailed info on a patient’s exercise regimen. For example, the type of running shoes, hiking boots, etc they use is important. The type of surface they are running/walking on, warm up and cool down techniques, etc. are all very important.

This advice does not pertain to everyone or every situation. If you do any of these things and don’t have pain, then feel free to keep doing what you are doing. But, if you have been dealing with nagging foot pain that isn’t going away, then read on. A simple change in how you exercise may help.

1. Treadmill Running + Incline = Pain

This is one I have seen quite frequently. Just running on a treadmill is fine in most cases. But, once you start cranking up that incline, the chances of pain and injury also start to climb.  As the pitch increases, you start running more on just the ball of your foot. This does three things.

  1. Focuses all the impact on just the ball of the foot.
  2. Prevents normal rear-foot pronation which leads to decreased shock absorption to the whole foot.
  3. Causes increased tension/strain on the Achilles tendon and maintains this strain throughout the stride.

These things can lead to development or worsening of neuroma pain, plantar fascia pain, Achilles tendonitis, and joint pain in the ball of the foot. So if you routinely use the treadmill on an incline, and have been having any type of foot pain, keep the treadmill flat or run outside or on a track if possible.  This may not solve the problem right away, but can be a good starting point.

2. Barefoot + Running = no problem (most of the time)

BUT:  Barefoot + Dance/Aerobics/Zumba/etc = Ouch

For many years now barefoot running has been touted as good for your feet and for many people this can be true.  However, just because barefoot running may have some benefits, it doesn’t mean that being barefoot during other types of workouts is just the same. For example, dance-type aerobic workouts like Zumba are very popular, and can be a great workout, as well as a lot of fun. But these types of activities (usually done on hard surfaces) involve quite a bit of repetitive stress and impact on the feet and should rarely, if ever, be done barefoot. A decent pair of athletic shoes will provide the necessary shock absorption and support to keep your feet happy and healthy.

3. Beware of the “Minimalist” Shoes

Over the past few years, “minimalist” shoes have been popular and are marketed as having similar benefits as barefoot-type shoes. These minimalist shoes are typically very lightweight, flexible and offer little benefit for either support or shock absorption. In addition, since the foot’s motion is still confined in a shoe, they do not have the foot strengthening benefits of barefoot shoes.  In short, they provide all of the negatives of barefoot running and none of the positives. Stiffer soled shoes with adequate cushion are usually the better option if you are having any chronic foot pain.

As I mentioned before, these recommendations do not pertain to every person in every instance. However, if you regularly do any sort of these workouts and have any foot pain associated with it, then it may be a good idea to make some minor adjustments to your routine. Your feet will thank you for years to come.

If you are experiencing unresolved  foot pain, come see us! We can help.

Book your appointment here.

5 Steps to Race Training (Part 1)

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As a podiatrist and a runner/triathlete, I know personally and professionally how important it is to take the proper steps to train for a race. Perhaps you have never run a race before and are training for your first 5k. Or, maybe you are more advanced and are ready to take on your first marathon. Either way, these five steps will help your body adjust properly and avoid injury so you can cross the finish line in victory.

1. Start early

If this is your first event of the season, you need start training at least 3-4 months in advance. Keep in mind that the longer the event, the sooner you should start your training. Also, if you have no base to start from, you may want to increase the time you take to prepare. For example, most half marathon programs are 10-16 weeks long, but assume that you have a running base to begin with.

If the plan has you running long runs early that are twice as long as your current long distance runs, you may want to pick another plan. Most plans are labeled beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so make sure you pick one that is appropriate for you. I also recommend a longer plan to give yourself more time and wiggle room in case you have a sick week or two.

2. Never skip the warm up

As a beginner or novice runner, the warm up is not as essential, but as you start training for longer distances and larger events, the warm up becomes critical. As you are training harder and faster, your body has the tendency to tighten up. I experienced this myself this year as I began my training.

You will need to spend more time stretching and warming up as you progress in your training. Stretching when you are finished is also essential. Your muscles are still warm, so stretching at this time provides a huge benefit.

3. Cross train

I am a triathloner for this very reason. I believe doing one repetitive motion will over-develop certain muscle groups and wear out joints sooner. At the same time, as a triathloner, you can still have the same issues. I believe in plans that have built in rest days and or range of motion days. My body is more stiff in general and so I need to spend extra focus on stretching. Spending some time on strength training as well can be very beneficial.

This can be as easy as adding push-up and pull-ups with some core exercises or light weights with high number of repetitions. Runners will typically benefit from lighter weight with higher repetitions rather than a body building style with heavy weights and fewer reps.

Stay tuned for steps 4 and 5, coming soon!

If you are having pain anywhere below the knee, come see us. We can help get you back on track as quickly as possible.

To make an appointment, click here. 

3 Common Injuries in Athletes: Part 2

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In the first blog, we talked about stress fractures being the first of the three most common injuries we typically see in athletes. Today, let’s dive into #2 and #3, and talk about causes, prevention and treatment.

2. Tendonitis

Once again, this injury is from overuse. The most common type of tendonitis we see involving athletes is Achilles tendonitis. The Achilles tendon is the most powerful tendon in the body and provides the propulsion strength needing in walking and running. It can often become very tight and repeated stress can cause micro tears in the tendon, causing pain and inflammation. Building rest days into your training can help prevent this injury. Stretching can also play a big part in prevention and can help if you are starting to develop the early signs of tendonitis. Icing the area for a short period of time can also help to resolve these symptoms.

However, if your symptoms persist, then considering more aggressive treatments can aid in the healing process. We avoid cortisone injections in this area due to the high chance of Achilles tendon rupture. We use laser therapy with the MLS laser to help reduce swelling and inflammation in the early stages of treatment. The laser also helps accelerate tissue repair and cell growth. If this has become a chronic issue, then we look at more regenerative treatment options like platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) and AmnioFix. These treatments can often prevent you from needing surgery and can help you resume your normal activity level more quickly.

3. Plantar Fasciitis

This is the most common complaint I see in my office. Heel pain affects many people and can be a common injury in athletes.  The plantar fascia is the main ligament that supports the arch. It runs from the heel bone to the ball of the foot. As our foot adapts to terrain, the plantar fascia can become overused and inflamed. It too can develop micro tears that cause pain and inflammation. Left untreated, it can become a chronic condition that causes the tissue to become thick and the plantar fascia loses it’s elasticity.

Symptoms often will be worst with the first step in the morning, or after sitting for long periods. In runners, it will often feel better shortly after you begin exercises, but will start to become painful again after longer distances and become progressively more and more painful. If the Achilles tendon is tight, it places added stress on the arch of the foot and often becomes the main cause of plantar fasciitis. Sometimes, plantar fasciitis can respond to calf stretching, but I would recommend coming in for an evaluation first as sometimes stretching can also make it worse, depending on the stage of the injury.

Plantar fasciitis also responds very well to regenerative injections like PRP and Amniofix.  Cortisone injections have been the traditional approach to treating this condition. However,  they often mask the symptoms, and when the injection starts to wear off, the pain returns. When using PRP or Amniofix, your immune system is recruited to aid in the healing of the tissue. The tissue is actually healing itself instead of just covering up the symptoms. Arch supports (orthotics) can also help to support the arch and prevent recurrence of pain.

Get Back to What You Love

So here’s the big takeaway. There are a myriad of injuries possible for athletes and triathletes, but these three are common because they are caused by overuse. We often treat all three injuries very similarly because of the response we see. Regenerative injections, orthotics, and MLS laser treatment have shown to get patients back to their activities, quickly. Often times, this happens in a matter of weeks instead of months.

Our goal is to heal the injury quickly, control the biomechanics of the foot to prevent the injury from returning, and get you back to doing the things that you love as quickly as possible.

To make an appointment, click here. 

3 Common Injuries in Athletes: Part 1

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stress fracture from triathlon training

I am new to the triathlon arena and I have signed up for the Boulder Half Ironman this fall.  I have been training through the winter but not as much as I had hoped. Now that the weather is getting nicer,  I have really tried to ramp it up. Be careful as one may end up with a stress fracture.

I am finding training for the Half Ironman to be significantly different than the sprint triathlon training I have done previously. I am starting to experience those aches and pains of pushing my body to the limit. So here’s three of the most common injuries in athletes, how to avoid them, and what to do if you start to experience these symptoms.

1. Stress Fracture

Stress fractures are the most common and they are an overuse injury. The reality is that we often completely ignore our feet. We stuff them in shoes and forget about them, and it is not until they start hurting that we appreciate all that our feet do for us.  There are 26 bones and 33 joints in the foot and they are made to take a beating every day.  They adapt to different terrains and absorb most of the shock we place on them but if not optimally aligned, our feet can start to fail us.

Can you avoid getting a stress fracture?

With constant stress, the bones in the foot can begin to break down and that’s when a stress fracture develops.  At first you might not think much about it, but soon the pain becomes overwhelming and will bring your training to a halt.  We often do too much too fast and the musculoskeletal system takes time to adapt. So, to help avoid this injury, make sure you have a steady and gradual increase in your work out. Most programs focus on the cardiovascular aspect, but I would also recommend some type of stretching and strength training at least once a week as well.

Your body needs a day of rest, so make sure you take at least one day off every week and you can focus more of stretching and joint range of motion that day. If you are concerned at all about your foot type and whether your feet and ankles can handle the increased stress placed on them, make sure you get evaluated to see if a pair of arch supports can help to put your feet in that optimal position to potentially avoid a stress fracture or other related injuries from overuse.

What are the treatment options?

If you are dealing with a stress fracture, there is good news. We have great options to help speed up the recovery process and get you back to training. We offer regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP) and AmnioFix injections. Both help to enhance your own body’s healing of the area. We will often follow up these types of injections with our MLS laser therapy which promotes healing and reduces pain and swelling in the area.

Our goal is to heal the injury quickly, control the biomechanics of the foot to prevent stress fractures from returning, and get you back to doing the things that you love as quickly as possible.

Part 2 of this blog is out now.

If you have a stress fracture, or symptoms of a stress fracture, please come see us. We can help!

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 329-8158, Broomfield location (303) 997-2795, Surgery Center (970) 329-8158, or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.